E3 2013 Impressions: Console wars has begun!

Well the E3 dust has cleared. Actually, it's been cleared for some time now. This E3 is one of the most important events in gaming history since this E3 marks the start of a new generation of consoles. Sony and Microsoft has finally shown what each of their new consoles will bring to the table, and by the end of the year(hopefully), we will have the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One out in the market together with Nintendo's Wii U, which was released last year. E3 this year felt like christmas came early. Tons of games were announced and I don't know where to start.

Just like previous E3, press conference starts way before the E3 doors open, and these press cons are the big chunk because that's were all the reveals start happening. This year is extra special with the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One revealed before the event To make it even more special, this year Nintendo decided to not have their yearly press conference with the rest. Most probably because they knew all the attention will be focused on the other consoles, no matter what they do. But Nintendo had announcements to do still, so they opt'd for the easier route, an E3 Nintendo Direct that revealed a gameplay trailer for the exclusive Wii U game Bayonetta 2 and first look at the new Smash Bros. game for the Wii U and apparently for the 3DS as well.

Each year, we always ask after each press conference: Who won this year's E3? That's always the case. This question further fuels the divide between consumers to pick a console side, and for this year I'd have to say Sony won by a landslide.

Microsoft tried...

It's easy to why this is so. Microsoft took the risk. They attempted to change the game by forcing more DRM policies and get a better control of the used game market. The 24 hour online check-in for the Xbox One and the restrictions on borrowing used games outraged millions. I for one was confused to why Microsoft decided to make such a move. Many were left with so many questions with Microsoft leaving half-baked answers creating more questions. The reveal was a complete mess and come E3, they hoped to ease the reaction by filling their press conference with nothing but games. Great move, we saw amazing demo's from Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid V, a small take of a new Xbox One exclusive Quantum Break, we were also treated with Dead Rising 3 being an exclusive, a small teaser to Halo, and the world premiere of Titanfall, which is one of my personal favorites this year(quick in and out mech gameplay = win).

But after all the impressive presentation on what games are coming to Xbox One, it felt like everything was normal again, until Microsoft sticks a $500 price tag on their new unit, and all of a sudden all the worries start coming back in, as if the press conference never happened. With a price like that, plus all the games mentioned, it was hard to consider the unit.

Then comes Sony. With an impressive presentation as well. But it wasn't the games that blew viewers away. Sony gave what gamers wanted to hear, and as much everybody says Sony has won, they just did one thing - announce that the PlayStation 4 isn't going the same route as the Xbox One. When Jack Tretton, President and CEO of Sony Entertainment of America announced they fully support used games, the crowd went wild. I laughed so hard because it was obvious what they are doing. Then followed that there will be no online check ins to use your PS4 offline, another big blow to their competitor. It made my day though, but yes, Sony has won the battle at E3 because of announcing that they would be retaining the same policies pretty much used on consoles today.

Right now, I'm actually shifting to the PlayStation 4 just because it will come out $100 cheaper. The games I'm mostly curious on are actually multi-platform. But it's still too early to tell. We have months to go before released and we don't know if there will be a drastic change.

But enough about who won. There were a lot of titles revealed, but a few of them got me excited to make the conversion to next-gen early. Here are some to name a few:

Titanfall

Titanfall is the first game of Respawn Entertainment, the new studio of Jason West, Vince Zampella, best known for their work at Infinity Ward on Call of Duty. It's a FPS mecha and FPS shooter that is purely focused on multiplayer. From what I've heard, they will be integrating Single-Player elements into multiplayer. But that's not what pulled me in. The amazing detail, the quick mobility of your soldier, and the mech gameplay makes this game worth getting for the Xbox One.

Metal Gear Solid V

Microsoft started their press conference with Metal Gear Solid V. The demo shown during that presentation blew my mind. Hideo Kojima is aiming for an open world MGS and gave us the first look of that goal in action. I don't mind Kiefer Sutherland replacing David Hayter as the voice of Snake anymore, this game is just a must buy.

Super Smash Bros. Wii U

I'm sorry, if there's one game that would force me to get a Wii U, it's this one. This is what Nintendo should have revealed together with the Wii U, not Nintendo Land. This is a great start, but this will definitely help Nintendo in the months to come, sales-wise.

Destiny

Destiny is the next game for Bungie after they retired from making Halo games. It's no surprise its another shooter, but it's an online shooter that has MMO elements in it. It was hard to get what they were aiming with this game, but I got it once they released their first gameplay demo of the game during Sony's press conference. The game will be available for current and next-gen consoles.

Tom Clancy's The Division

Ubisoft wow'd E3 with the reveal of Watch Dogs in their press conference, but now they bring yet another IP that did the same effect to me. The Divison is an online shooter that incorporates RPG elements in its gameplay. Watch the gameplay below and you'll understand why I want this game now. Also notice that they incorporated tablet gaming into the game.

As always, this year's E3 was a treat to watch . Don't think that's the only good thing to come out of E3 in terms of games. Final Fantasy XV has been revealed, as well as Resident Evil's creators new title that aims to revive the survival horror genre. Check out our E3 posts for more.